where to move?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by gookgette

yeah, i can handle the rain. i just don't like bracing myself for the extreme cold. i don't mind drizzle. rain would be hard to run in, though. the natural beauty and the weekend trips to other natural beauty surrounding portland appeals to me... but i'm single, and the economy seems bad in portland? would i be able to meet a guy with a decent job, i wonder?

That's pretty difficult to answer. Anything is possible. The ratio of men to women is in women's favor but whether or not those men will have good paying jobs is another story.

It may depend upon your occupation. If you work in an area where there are single guys with good jobs of course your chances are going to be better. I used to work for a large insurance company and there were lots of hook ups where people found good matches but that's kind of unusual I think.

BTW, did you say what your occupation was?

Portland doesn't normally have extreme cold not like Chicago. Nor is extreme heat common like Austin.

[gookgette]

i work in the medical field. my job in chicago and portland is 32 hours, but can pick up shifts... my job in austin i'm guaranteed. headquarters are in chicago, and i have family and friends there... but i'm kinda yearning to explore a different part of the country.

[Nell Plotts]

Evidently you are a single female, now is the time to explore different parts of the country. You can always move what ever you choose.

Austin has a different culture, I hear, than the rest of Texas. Your risk there is that you will meet and marry a died-in-the-wool Texan who will want/need to leave Austin.

Portland has a fantastic health care community with a stunning retention rate.

If Chicago & Portland only offer you 32 hours I would run the numbers on their cost of living vs Austin.

[Juxtaposition109]

I've lived in all three. I love Chicago but it is crazy cold and you said you aren't looking for cold weather. Portland, Or is nice but the two years that lived there I always dreaded my daily jog due to the constant drizzle and wet environment. If you can deal with the grey blanket that covers PDX 9 months out of the year than go for it. Austin would be the choice I would recommend for you. The weather is decent year round although it does get hot during the summer, there are lots of outdoors opportunities. (If someone tells you to meet them at hippie hollow don't fall for the joke ) Austin can be expensive depending on what someone may be used to but I'm sure you can swing it. If you can visit all three before you make up your mind go to PDX and Chicago during the winter and Austin during the summer so you will know what the extreme weather of that climate is like. If you do end up in Austin go check out the bat colony that lives under the bridge downtown, it's pretty neat. Diversity wise I would say Chicago but since it has been ruled out due to cold weather I would go with Austin as PDX isn't very diverse. Good luck on your move.